Immigrants can still get a UK working visa despite new policies
September 11 2009 by Matt Jones
CPID: UK working visas still available
The new restrictions on appointing non-EU foreigners to work in the UK will not necessarily affect the numbers of UK work visas available, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Changes made
include a requirement to advertise jobs in the UK for a month
instead of two weeks before allowing for overseas recruitment.
Although
this may alarm some firms in the UK who rely on UK visa holders to fill skills
shortages, Gerwyn Davies, the CIPD’s public policy advisor, told Personnel
Toda:
“They have tightened the criteria, but it won't have a major impact on
the numbers coming into the UK to work - it's still a points-based
system."
Gerwyn added that some of the changes actually make it easier
for firms to attract skilled migrants to work in the UK.
He said:
"In terms of skills shortages, they have made two changes to make it easier.”
"People with masters degrees are given more points in Tier 2, and certain
occupations in the public sector can get extra points."
This viewpoint
has been supported by the CBI’s director-general, John Cridland, who commented
that the changes represent a good balance, adding that immigration is vital for
the UK’s economy.
He said: “These
proposals strike the sensible balance that businesses were looking for. It is
right that the work permit reacts to the recession and rising unemployment, but
abolishing key routes into the country would have damaged the economy at this
critical time."
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